WSU-Idaho Rivalry Renewal Potentially In The Works

When Washington State first met Idaho on the gridiron in 1894, the game of football had a much different look to it. In the time since that first meeting on a chilly November afternoon 121 years ago, the schools have met 451 times in four separate sports.

After a century of interstate play, the rivalry came to a screeching halt in the early 2000s, when the athletic departments from both colleges chose to end the interstate series. However, school officials at both universities recently added one another as opponents in back-to-back basketball seasons, prompting fans to take notice. When it was announced that the programs would meet on the football field in 2013 and again in 2016, the news led to a number of students excited about the possibility of renewing the “Battle of the Palouse.”

When Boise State paraded the Governor’s Trophy in the Kibbie Dome in 2010 following a 52-14 victory over the Vandals, many Idaho students didn’t realize that this meeting was the last in-state rivalry football game for the program. Before the matchup, BSU president Bob Kustra expressed displeasure at Vandal fans, referring to them as “nasty” and “inebriated,” his comments sparking statewide controversy. Kustra refused to back down from his stance later in the month, and decided to cancel the annual meeting between the two programs, leaving the series in limbo with no foreseeable future between the schools.

In the five years since, many Vandal football fans were left confused as to which foe would be considered the new rival. School officials attempted to build up Sun Belt newcomer New Mexico State as the biggest football competitor for the Vandals, but to little avail.

Meanwhile, Idaho basketball has suffered a similar situation as a result of the fallout. The Vandals play Boise State on an inconsistent basis, and only at a neutral site, in order to keep from playing on the Boise campus because of Kustra's comments. Because of the inconsistent nature of the series, Idaho basketball downplayed the intrastate rivalry and attempted to develop a competitive environment with Big Sky opponent Montana, but fans have complained that the series between the teams lacks substance and background.

An inkling of renewing the “Battle of the Palouse” began in January of 2013, when WSU announced Idaho as an opponent for that upcoming football season. The hope for rivalry renewal gained more steam in the summer of 2014, when WSU announced that it would schedule a second home football game against the Vandals during the 2016 season.

In the time since, the Idaho men’s basketball program scheduled two meetings with WSU. This includes a game on the road in Beasley Coliseum last year, in which the Vandals emerged with a 77-71 victory over the Cougars on their home court. The volleyball and soccer programs for the two universities also faced one another earlier in the semester, resulting in much larger crowds than anticipated at both campus venues.

The recent coordination between the two schools has fans in the Palouse thrilled as to the possibility of renewing the “Battle of the Palouse” as a full-time rivalry between the colleges.

“WSU and UI have very similar atmospheres,” began Ali Riggan, a former Washington State student. “I think playing each other is a good way to prompt a healthy sense of competitiveness between the two universities.”

Because Idaho students have not had a legitimate rival in recent years, the WSU-Idaho matchup allows Vandal students to funnel their energy into those key games, and make more of an effort to pack the stadiums during the momentous meetings with the neighboring opponent.

“If the rivalry is done right, it has the potential to be good for both the towns and universities,” said Elizabeth Diaz, an interior design student at the University of Idaho. “With the two towns being so close together there’s a joint sense of competition and excitement. Everyone can get in on it, no matter which side they’re cheering for.”

The possible renewal of the Battle of the Palouse could also benefit the communities of both Moscow and Pullman. The two cities are located only eight miles from one another, allowing for quick and affordable transportation for athletes and fans between the schools. In addition, the matchup will allow businesses in the two cities to reap the rewards of larger crowds, as more fans visit local shops and restaurants during game day.

While school officials from both universities have not elaborated on further sporting events between the two colleges, the potential to renew the Battle of the Palouse has led many to speculate as to the future in store for the two universities and their respective athletic programs. However, the rivalry will only develop and reach full-time status if the athletic departments for both colleges are supportive and willing to commit to renewing the historic rivalry.

The Vandals are currently scheduled to face the Cougars at Cowan Spectrum in Moscow on Dec. 10 this upcoming basketball season. The two college football programs are also scheduled to meet on the gridiron at Martin Stadium in Pullman on Sep. 17 of next year.

30 Things I'd Rather Be Than 'Pretty'

Nowadays, we put so much emphasis on our looks. We focus so much on the outside that we forget to really focus on what matters. I was inspired by a list that I found online of "Things I Would Rather Be Called Instead Of Pretty," so I made my own version. Here is a list of things that I would rather be than "pretty."

1. Captivating

I want one glance at me to completely steal your breath away.

2. Magnetic

I want people to feel drawn to me. I want something to be different about me that people recognize at first glance.

3. Raw

I want to be real. Vulnerable. Completely, genuinely myself.

4. Intoxicating

..and I want you addicted.

5. Humble

I want to recognize my abilities, but not be boastful or proud.

6. Exemplary

I want to stand out.

7. Loyal

I want to pride myself on sticking out the storm.

8. Fascinating

I want you to be hanging on every word I say.

9. Empathetic

I want to be able to feel your pain, so that I can help you heal.

10. Vivacious

I want to be the life of the party.

11. Reckless

I want to be crazy. Thrilling. Unpredictable. I want to keep you guessing, keep your heart pounding, and your blood rushing.

12. Philanthropic

I want to give.

13. Philosophical

I want to ask the tough questions that get you thinking about the purpose of our beating hearts.

14. Loving

When my name is spoken, I want my tenderness to come to mind.

15. Quaintrelle

I want my passion to ooze out of me.

16. Belesprit

I want to be quick. Witty. Always on my toes.

17. Conscientious

I want to always be thinking of others.

18. Passionate

...and I want people to know what my passions are.

19. Alluring

I want to be a woman who draws people in.

20. Kind

Simply put, I want to be pleasant and kind.

21. Selcouth

Even if you've known me your whole life, I want strange, yet marvelous. Rare and wondrous.

22. Pierian

From the way I move to the way I speak, I want to be poetic.

23. Esoteric

Do not mistake this. I do not want to be misunderstood. But rather I'd like to keep my circle small and close. I don't want to be an average, everyday person.

24. Authentic

I don't want anyone to ever question whether I am being genuine or telling the truth.

25. Novaturient

..about my own life. I never want to settle for good enough. Instead I always want to seek to make a positive change.

On December 17, 2018, the Anaheim Ducks had just defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins on the road 4-2, and sat in a playoff spot with a 19-11-5 record, good for 43 points and 2nd in the Pacific Division. Since then, the Ducks have lost 19 out of their last 21 games, going 2-15-4 during that stretch, now sitting at 21-26-9 and 51 points on February 12th, eight points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference. After their last loss, head coach Randy Carlyle was finally axed and general manager Bob Murray stepped in as the interim coach. Many issues exist currently and for the foreseeable future in Anaheim, which could see its first sustained rebuild since the early 2000s, where the team missed the playoffs three years in a row.

One of the Ducks' bigger issues is the lack of goal scoring throughout the lineup. The leading player in goals is forward Jakob Silfverberg, with 12 in 47 games played. That's not enough for a team that is 56 games into the season. The overall points production is quite anemic too. Captain and center Ryan Getzlaf leads the club with 36 points in 50 games, and he is the only player with more than 30 points to this date.

Injuries are also factoring into the equation: center Adam Henrique and defenseman Brandon Montour are the only Ducks to have played in every game this season, with players such as forwards in Silfverberg, Getzlaf, Rickard Rakell, Corey Perry, Ryan Kesler, and Ondrej Kase as well as defensemen Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm, and goaltender Ryan Miller all spending at least five games on the injured reserve.

With so many players in and out of the lineup, not to mention that most of the fill-ins are inexperienced at the NHL level, it is hard to develop any sort of chemistry for an extended period of time. Goaltender John Gibson has been unable to maintain grade A performance in net, as his save percentage is now at 0.914, below where he started the season. With all of this considered, the Ducks have a tough future ahead when considering their salary cap situation.

Perry and Getzlaf, both of who will turn 34 in May, have a cap hit of $8.625 and $8.25 million for the next two years after the 2018-19 season, while Kesler, who turns 35 in August, makes $6.825 million for the next 3 years after this season concludes. Perry has only played in five games this year due to injuries, Getzlaf's production is declining and not up to par with how much he is paid, and Kesler has only six points in 48 games, and he also only played in 44 games last season due to injuries, scoring just 14 points.

These expensive contracts are untradeable unless they attach a younger asset in a trade, like prospects Sam Steel, Max Jones, Maxim Comtois, or Troy Terry. It is possible that Kesler and/or Perry will be bought out of their contracts in the offseason, meaning they will save money against the salary cap for the remainder of those contract years, but will have portions of that contract counting against the cap for a few years more.

Despite these bad contracts which currently prevent the Ducks from signing more than one big free agent, the aforementioned prospects will most likely see more substantial time in Anaheim next season, which could boost the club, but it is unlikely that any of them take the league by storm to make the Ducks a contender again. For this to happen, young forwards like Rakell, Kase, and Daniel Sprong will have to exceed expectations, while the defensive core will also need to step it up compared to their performance this, which makes them look overpaid.

As it stands, the Ducks are 4th in the 2019 NHL Draft Lottery and could see a highly touted prospect come to Anaheim next year, but the current roster and prospect core will need bounce back seasons or the management group will be forced to blow up much of the roster, which would almost guarantee missing the playoffs again.